Topless Ukraine activists grab Euro trophy

KIEV – Protestors from Ukrainian women’s rights group Femen snatched the European Championship trophy as it was on display in the southeast of the country on Monday, before being reprimanded by police.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

KIEV – Protestors from Ukrainian women’s rights group Femen snatched the European Championship trophy as it was on display in the southeast of the country on Monday, before being reprimanded by police.The organisation has had a presence at a number of Euro 2012-related events, as it believes hosting the tournament will lead to a surge in prostitution in Ukraine.The latest protest came in Dnipropetrovsk as Inna Shevchenko, 21, removed her top to reveal the words "F*** Euro 2012” and then grabbed the 8kg Henri Delaunay trophy.As police swiftly moved to seize her, another activist - who Femen later claimed was a French journalist - also stripped off to reveal the same slogan,"She also supports our struggle against sexism and prostitution and decided to take part,” Femen official Anna Hutsol said.A similar attempt to snatch the cup was made earlier this month and the group is threatening to step up its protests when the tournament rolls into town in June, with matches set to take place in Ukrainain cities Kiev, Donetsk, Kharkiv and Lviv.